Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The Deputy is not saying anything different to what I have said myself. The Dublin inner city received was allocated €6.5 million this year. Last year's funding for South Dublin County Council was €737,700, which provided for 120 projects that have been approved to date. These projects were ring-fenced. I also gave funding to the Men's Shed programme and ring-fenced €500,000 for this programme. The Men's Shed is working particularly well in disadvantaged areas. I wish I had more money to give to that group, which does a lot of work on the ground.

Staying with the question the Deputy has asked, I am glad the scheme is open and that I was in the position to open it. I put a substantial amount of money into the scheme last year from savings in other Departments. That scheme was worthy of more support. I could have allocated this funding to roads or other areas but I wanted to put it into disadvantaged areas. I, like the Deputy, want to see the areas that need to be targeted receive this funding. The Deputy is quite correct in saying that these areas are to be found in both urban and rural areas.

I visited Dublin inner city with the Minister for Finance, Deputy Donohoe. I would love to bring some of the rural people up to see the level of disadvantage. There is disadvantage in both urban and rural areas. It would do one's heart good to see the respect these people have regarding the small level of funding that was available to them and what they do with it. There is a great community spirit there and I would like to target more areas like that and give them the support and finances they need.

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